Best Glue for Metal – Buyer’s Guide

By Peter Shapiro Last Updated: May 27, 2018

5.00 avg. rating (98% score) - 4 votes

Gluing metal to metal can be a frustrating process if you don’t have the right glue.

When you have a good glue, the grip is nearly instant with a hold that is strong and reliable. This level of performance saves time and spares you a lot of frustration. Without the right glue, however, the bond may take too long to complete, and it may not hold for long. This type of failure can lead to safety issues and incomplete projects. This isn’t ideal for metal workers, mechanics, jewelers, construction workers, and manufacturing facilities that rely heavily on gluing metal to metal.
Glue failure is also not good for the homeowner doing home improvement projects or the crafter working to create something extraordinary.

Fortunately, the right glue is out there. In fact, there are many varieties vying to be the best glue for metal and we have tested them so you can choose which one is best for you.

When looking for the best glue for metal, J-B Weld is a familiar brand. It comes in basic packaging that has the claim “World’s Strongest Bond” printed at the top. This quick setting steel reinforced epoxy comes as a two-part epoxy and is the faster setting version of the original cold weld two-part epoxy.

This epoxy sets in as little as 6 minutes and takes 4 to 6 hours to cure, so it can’t be touched during this time if you want the bond to be as strong as possible.

Permanent Bonding

Once it is cured, the bond is permanent. This means that you can sand it, drill it, fill it, or whatever you need to do. This is a bond with a tensile strength of 2424 PSI, which is a very strong bond. IT’s easy to use, works on multiple surfaces, and can function at temperatures up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Those that benefit the most from this glue are homeowners completing household repairs, plumbers, mariners, crafters, auto mechanics, and many others.

This glue is an editor’s pick because of its tensile strength, quick bonding time, number of applications, and user-friendliness.

2. E6000 230732 Craft Adhesive

The E6000 packaging means business, as it gives you a lot of information when you look at it. This is an industrial strength adhesive that results in a permanent bond. It comes as a single tube, so there is no having to mix compounds to get the bond you want.

Perfect For Crafters

Nonetheless, this glue isn’t going to give you an instant bond. This is good for crafters that need to make adjustments to the project. However, you have only 5 minutes to make those adjustments. For crafters looking for a fast cure, that’s not happening either because the cure time is 24 to 72 hours. If you are fine with putting the project down for up to a few days, then the cure time may be perfect for you.

Another reason why this metal glue might be perfect is that it’s easy to use. The adhesive being in one tube makes it easy to apply with one hand in one step. What makes it even easier is the built-in applicator tip.

Bond Anything You Want

You can bond fabric, wood, glass, ceramic, metal, and a wide variety of materials. The glue also performs well in high temperatures and extreme conditions, including water. The excess can be easily wiped away and, once dry, you can paint it so that it isn’t obvious the glue was used in the project.

This glue is an editor’s choice because it can handle many conditions, can bond many materials together, and allows crafters to easily clean up.

Pros

Bonds more than just metal

Waterproof

Non-flammable

Resists high temperatures

Safe to use in a washer or dryer

Ideal for craft projects because excess is easily wiped away and the cured glue is paintable

3. Loctite Liquid Professional – Super Glue For Metal

You wouldn’t think that super glue would be a type of glue that would bond metal, but Loctite Liquid Professional Super Glue does. When you need to make repairs or complete heavy-duty projects, this glue comes in a bottle that is easy to squeeze so the job is done easily and quickly. It comes in attractive packaging that bears the Loctite name and the fact that this is a very fast drying glue.

Fast drying means that there is no time to make errors. In other words, there is very little time to make adjustments.

Universal Tool

However, this glue for metal also works with ceramic, paper, rubber, plastics, wood, and rubber. Jewelers, photographers, auto mechanics, and others can use this glue to repair jewelry, car parts, furniture, toys, cameras, vases, and practically anything you can think of. You could even repair that tear in your favorite pair of pants or glue that zipper back into place.

This is a recommended glue because of how it handles large projects and the speed in which it allows a person to handle them. The pin cap will also not clog, which is an issue many people have with super glues

4. Amazing Goop 160012 – Best Automotive Adhesive For Metal

The Amazing Goop Automotive Adhesive package looks like a lot of fun with its cartoonish font and red and gray colors. However, the text on the package shows it means business. Auto mechanics will appreciate this adhesive because of its metal-on-metal bonding capabilities, as well as the flexibility in its use.

The bonding capabilities are so good that you might never be able to completely remove it from rough surfaces. It also contains distillates, which means it could dissolve paint or other coatings it is applied to. It also has no applicator, so you may have to get creative in how you apply it.

Weather Resistant

Nonetheless, practically anyone in the automotive industry can use this glue because its uses include repairing torn vinyl car seats and floor mats. It’s waterproof and resists sun damage, so it also works on convertible tops and the reattachment of side molding and emblems. If there are items vibrating in a car, the bond is strong enough to stop the vibration.

Under the hood, auto mechanics can seal hoses that leak, as well as use it as an insulator for electrical wiring or a protectant for battery terminals.

This glue is well-liked because of its versatility. It has applications that solve problems inside and outside of any motor vehicle.

5. Best Jewelry Glue: Aleene’s Jewelry & Metal Glue

Jewelry repair is a respectable profession because of the very small parts that must be dealt with. Some pieces of jewelry seem almost impossible to repair. However, a good jewelry glue can make all the difference. Aleene’s Jewelry & Metal Glue will make the repair of small stones and beads possible. The glue also works well with the different metals.

This is a glue that dries so fast that there is no room for error. It dries almost instantly, which has its pros and cons. The pro is that the job is done fast. The con is that the parts being glued must be placed correctly the first time or corrected quickly.

Fortunately, jewelry repair is a craft that not just anyone can do. It takes talent. This glue dries clear and strong for a permanent hold. It’s easy to use so that error is less likely.

This glue receives the designation as the best jewelry glue because of its powerful bond. The fast-drying time also makes jewelry repairs go fast.

Pros

A permanent bond

Facilitates speedy jewelry repairs

Simplifies the jewelry repair process

Fast-drying for people that prefer it

Small applicator tip

Cons

Dries almost instantly, leaving little time to make adjustments after the glue is applied

Sometimes, it’s necessary to bond metal to glass and vice versa. Looking at the Beacon Glass Metal & More Premium Permanent Glue’s packaging, it’s like you’re looking at a product that has been around for a century or more. The vintage look is comforting and trustworthy. That’s because it is a product that can aid in the repair of practically anything.

Just don’t use the glue near a flame because the vapor is flammable. The vapor is also harmful, so you must use it in a well-ventilated area.

As you use the glue in a safe place, you’ll notice it grabs on very fast. Furthermore, the glue can be used to do more than bond metal to glass. The glue is also useful in the creation of mosaics, repair of jewelry, and much more. this is a fast-drying glue that clear so that it is practically invisible. The glue also dries fast so you can finish your project quickly.

This glue stands out as the best metal to glass glue because it succeeds where some super glues fail, especially when gluing metal and glass together. The drying time is fast and the bond is very strong.

As you probably already know, epoxies are very strong. Most are two-component adhesives that, when mixed, create a bond that is virtually unbreakable. Technicqll Very Strong Epoxy Adhesive Glue is a good example of this, as it has been called “liquid metal” because of how strong it is. Looking at the packaging, it doesn’t look much different than any other epoxy until you take a close look at the details.

Among the details is the fact that the surface you’re working with needs to be thoroughly cleaned to ensure the best possible bond.

Another detail is that the epoxy can handle temperatures as low as -86 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 158 degrees Fahrenheit. The adhesive works on alloys, cast iron, concrete, steel, brass, bronze, aluminum, and other metal types. It will even bond to plastic and stone so that it can aid in the completion of projects that involve multiple materials.

The bond is resistant to acids, oil, and gasoline. In other words, it is ideal for harsh environments.

The initial cure occurs in 90 minutes with a full cure achieved in approximately three hours.

A glue that holds different types of metals together tightly is a glue that is very strong. That is precisely how this glue has performed.

8. Best Waterproof Glue for Metal: Elmer’s E7502 Advanced ProBond

When you see the Elmer’s name, you probably think about the glue you used in school. Well, Elmer’s does much more than create white paste and glue sticks used in art classes; the company creates professional-strength glue that is waterproof. It’s Advanced ProBond stands up to all types of weather and can bond metal, unlike its little brothers and sisters hanging out in art boxes around the world.

Also, unlike school glue, this glue is runnier. It’s important to be prepared for the glue to come out fast, otherwise, it’s easy to squeeze out too much.

Fortunately, E7502 Advanced ProBond can be quickly cleaned up with water. It’s non-toxic, despite its ability to bond metal, concrete, stone, wood, and many other material types. When the glue dries, it is translucent. If you wish to paint over it, you can.

Overall, this is a simple glue that gets the job done. It’s nice that a name we know from our school days has entered the world of multi-surface professional adhesives.

3M is known for its products, including the Scotch-Weld name. This is a two-part adhesive, but it mixes as it dispenses from the bottle, which eliminates the need to manually mix the compounds. This alone saves time and ensures the mix is prepared properly.

However, this is a glue that is best for dispensing at a low volume, so it’s going to take more glue for large projects.

Nonetheless, this epoxy is effective for joining, attaching, and even sealing. The bond is permanent and holds up well against impact and vibration. It holds well because it expands and contracts with temperature changes. If applied at room temperature, the object or objects that have been glued can be handled in approximately 20 minutes.

If you need to glue together items made of multiple materials, this glue will work. It’s flexible in its applications. Those applications include automotive, electrical, construction, and general industrial. Once applied, you have five minutes to make adjustments. The epoxy completely cured in 48 hours.

All in all, this epoxy works well for construction projects because of its ability to bond metal to metal and metal to dissimilar surfaces. It’s strong and reaches handling strength within 20 minutes.

Pros

Versatile and flexible

Bonds metal to dissimilar surfaces

Metered and mixes as both compounds are dispensed from the bottle

Reaches handling strength in 20 minutes

Cons

Ideal for smaller projects, although more glue can be used for larger projects

Best Glue for Metal Buyer’s Guide

It’s believed that metal glues could replace soldering and welding in some applications. This is because the technology that is integrated into today’s metal glues and epoxies can join two metal objects or metal objects to other surfaces quickly and efficiently. The bonds are tight and are becoming increasingly more resistant to temperature and harsh environmental changes.

How is this even possible?

First, two-part mix and no-mix acrylics, polyurethanes, and two-part epoxies have a lot to do with it. The bond strength is high even in intense environments. These are the technologies that are used. What makes these technologies work are such components as resins and hardeners.

Resins and hardeners are used at specific ratios to create strong bonds. Epoxies are the perfect example of this, as the mix ratio must be just right so that the resin and hardener work together to create that tight and very special bond.

When using a single component adhesive, such as a urethane, it relies on moisture on the surface or atmosphere to make the bond. During the curing process, carbon dioxide is released. However, an environment that is too moist can cause foaming. That’s why a glue may say it’s best to not use it in humid environments.

Metal to Metal Glue

While metal-on-metal gluing has come a long way with these technologies, new technologies have emerged.

Think about what happens when you rub the bristles of two brushes together. It’s very hard, isn’t it? In fact, you may not be able to move them at all because they interlace. New glues are using an interlacing process like this. The technology behind this has to do with “nanorods.”

Nanorods can’t be seen by the naked eye, but if you place the glue on two surfaces and press them together, the nanorods will connect and allow the metal to stick to metal. This is like soldering without the heat and the danger. A nanorod bond can withstand heat and can have a bond up to 1,500 psi, which is greater than some soldiers.

Choosing the Right Glue for Metal

Now that you know a little about the technology, the question is how you know which glue for metal is right for you and your project?

Bond Time

First, consider your workflow so you know how much time you have. Adhesives have different drying and cure times. If an adhesive takes three days to cure and you don’t have three days, you must find something that cures faster. However, you have to ensure a shorter cure time doesn’t sacrifice the bond.

Waterproof? Sun Resistant?

Second, think about the environment your project will be exposed to. Will the temperatures get very high, such as under the hood of a car? Are you planning to use it on a cold weather? Will rain be an issue, resulting in the need for a waterproof adhesive? The answers to these questions will help you narrow down the options.

Bottle Size

Third, look at the size of the project. This will help you figure out how many bottles of glue you need which determines the cost. One rule of thumb, however, is to not let cost sacrifice quality. Quality is everything when it comes to glue for metal because a poor bond could compromise the result or even be dangerous.

What Else?

Fourth, consider the user-friendliness of the glue. There are some glues out there that aren’t user-friendly at all, especially when it comes to manually mixing two-component adhesives. Others have bottles that aren’t easy to operate with one hand, especially when lacking a good applicator.

It’s good to consider everything that’s important to you in a metal glue so that the finished product is durable and of good quality.

Conclusion

At one time, the ability to glue pieces of metal together or metal to other objects didn’t exist. The only methods were soldering and welding, which made for a dangerous and slow method. With glues that have the tensile strength of a weld or solder, projects are being sped up. As new technologies, such as nanorod technology, continues to pick up speed, it’s only a matter of time until welding and soldering are needed less and less.